Sweet Charity Ending Question

Posted: 3/22/07 at 9:54pm

I just rewatched, for the first time in several years, my DVD of the movie of Sweet Charity. While I love the movie dearly while at the same time think it's a huge mess I liked it even more than I remembered... I can see why it bombed of course, but...

Anyway--one thing, while watching the alternate ending bonus (which honestly--while totally wrong for the feel of the piece--I don't think is as bad as many claim. It has some funny lines and is a nice compromise...) how does the original stage version end? I know she doesn't end up with Oscar [I don't think] and something to do with a CBS TV "Fairy godmother"? Can someone give a description? I did read the original Simon libretto back when I first fell for the show in Jr High but that's... well a long time ago.

E

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 10:05pm

It ends pretty much the same. Oscar tells her how he can't be with her wondering how many men she's been with, and he leaves her. After he walks off Charity sings "If my friends could see me now." And that's pretty much sums it up. lol. It's a classic Neil Simon ending. His plays never end that happy. Look at The Odd Couple for example.

I just finished a production of this about a week ago.

[sondhead]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 10:32pm

Mmm then ya'll did an illegal ending. The ending as licensed and performed originally is roughly:

Charity thinks Oscar won't want her because of her job. He says of course not! I love you! Everyone's happy. They sing "I Love to Cry at Weddings". THen, he decides he's not okay with it, pushes her in the lake. She gets out and out comes this fairy that says something to the effect of "Tonight. Tonight. It will all happen tonight. Your desitiny/dreams (or something) will happen tonight."

Then she turns around and we see a sign on her back that says "The Good Fairy--TONIGHT on ABC". She exits, and Charity does the dance she did at the beginning.



Seriously. What made that seem like a good ending.

Posted: 3/22/07 at 10:35pm

Ah ever cynical Fosse--though that's more in keeping with the Felini ending too (yeah I know Simon wrote it but Fosse had a lot of control and created the idea).

Thnaks for the details! I have to say I'm almost surprised a Broadway hit would have such a downbeat ending--I mean the pushing in the lake seems almost cruel to Charity--and adds an extra layer to Oscar not in the film.

Revival changed things?

[jg4892]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 10:36pm

When my sister did the show, they ended it with Oscar leaving and Charity singing a reprise of I'm The Bravest Individual.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 10:38pm

sondhead - You can do either one. But I don't like that ending so I decided to not mention it.

Also, the ferris wheel scene is available to do in a diffrent way, just in case the theatre is to small for something like that (which is what we had to do).

Posted: 3/22/07 at 11:34pm

Well I was asking about the ending the Fosse original and Fosse's 80s revival used--which was the one with the Fairy--was the other ending written later, like the other Pippin ending?

E

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/22/07 at 11:55pm

I believe the alternate ending was written by Peter Stone and first appeared in the film. I prefer this version more so than Fosse/Simon's and it is the ending that was used for the revival.

Posted: 3/23/07 at 3:51am

OK now I'm confused (ya ya what's new...)

So the alternate ending you can do is her not being pushed in the lake and ending with a reprise of Friends Could See me Now? Peter Stone adapted the movie I know but the movie doesn't end with Friends See Me Now... But he wrote the play second ending too?

E

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 3/23/07 at 8:30am

I HATE the fairy ending...just wanted to say.

[D2]

Posted: 3/23/07 at 8:37am

The original film, THE NIGHTS OF CABIRIA, is far darker - Oscar literally tries to kill Cabiria (Charity) by pushing her off a cliff but then has second thoughts.

[Buscee]

Posted: 3/23/07 at 8:45am

The Fairy Godmother ending was used in the original and 1986 revival. The new ending where Charity stands up for herself was only in the 2005 revival. The ferris wheel scene in the original and 1986 productions was actually the Coney Island parachute jump ride.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 3/23/07 at 9:02am

See, we used the Coney Island parachute jump scene.

In the theatre I was doing this at (this is Mississippi) they put up a background for Coney Island and it looked more like Central Park! And I was like "WTF?! This looks NOTHING like Coney Island! You need rats running around, fat people in little tiny outfits, garbage everywhere, a hot dog stand on every corner, some cheap stuffed animals..." lol.

Can anyone post the 2005 ending?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/23/07 at 10:01am

I think she gets crabs.

Posted: 3/23/07 at 10:17am

I don't remember the ending....that's sad...

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 3/23/07 at 4:24pm

sondhead is absolutely correct and that form is the only licensed ending. Also, I don't think of it as a horrible ending. I find it to be a bit realistic and also the fact that no matter what Charity gets through it and moves on. Not everyone gets a happy ending in real life ya know. (ps: why can I not giggle when I type that part about everyone getting a 'happy ending'? hahaha)

Posted: 3/23/07 at 7:14pm

Yeah from all I've read I think it's my fave too even if I can see why people doing the revival, etc, would want to change it.

Posted: 3/23/07 at 9:44pm

then there is the hippie ending. where she takes up with a group of hippies...they say, "love".....give her a flower and she says..."well, at least I didn't get tattoed again. and I still have my dowry...things are lookin up"...she does her opening dance.

[sondhead]

Posted: 3/23/07 at 9:47pm

Just to clarify, I don't not like the original ending because it's sad--I don't like it because I think the fairy joke is stupid and bizarre.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 3/23/07 at 11:55pm

I like sad endings in shows for some reason. But it has to fit with shows like Sweet Charity, Company, Fiddler on the Roof, Little Shop of Horrors (although, that's more of a comedy ending), etc.

If the original ending is when he just leaves her and then it ends, then I do like it.

I hate the fairy ending..it makes no sense at all.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/24/07 at 12:01am

It was Ruth Buzzi right?


Updated On: 3/24/07 at 12:01 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/24/07 at 12:02am

It was Ruth Buzzi.

It was funny.
Updated On: 3/24/07 at 12:02 AM

Posted: 3/29/07 at 8:36pm

So the hippie ending was used on stage? when? i love it in the film (though it thankfully lacks those lines and a dance :P )

Posted: 3/29/07 at 11:46pm

yeah the hippie ending was done! the endings where he comes back are weak.

Posted: 3/30/07 at 2:13am

SO confused--so where was the hippie ending used?